Aston Villa eyes on key fixture with final day permutations set to become clear

Defeat for Manchester City at home to Bournemouth, in a match rearranged from the weekend due to the former’s involvement in the FA Cup final, would leave Unai Emery’s team knowing a win at Manchester United on Sunday would be enough to secure a top-five finish.

City, however, need only a point against the Cherries to move back above Villa in the table and ensure they head to Fulham on the final day in charge of their own fate.

A thrilling finish is in prospect with five clubs, all of whom are guaranteed to be playing European football next season, battling for the three remaining Champions League places.

Villa, currently fifth in the table, can still finish anywhere between third and seventh in the standings and play in either the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League next season.

Emery’s team have won nine of their last 11 Premier League matches to force their way back into the Champions League race but their goal difference, which is significantly poorer than City, Chelsea and Newcastle, leaves them at a disadvantage should they head into the last day outside the top-five places.

Should City avoid defeat against Bournemouth, Villa would go to Old Trafford needing a win and hoping either City, Chelsea or Newcastle slip-up elsewhere.

Newcastle host Everton, while Chelsea visit Nottingham Forest in the most eye-catching fixture of the final day. A victory for Forest would see them leapfrog Villa in the table, should Emery’s men fail to win against United.

Villa are believed to be unhappy City’s match against Bournemouth was rescheduled for after the Cup final, fearing a victory for Crystal Palace in the latter would extinguish the Cherries own European hopes and hinder their motivation.

But while Palace’s win at Wembley saw them claim a Europa League place, Bournemouth’s chances of reaching Europe are not completely over.

Should Chelsea finish seventh and win next week’s Conference League final, eighth place will be enough to secure a place in the latter competition for next season. That means the Cherries, two points behind eighth-placed Brentford but with a match in hand, still have plenty to play for at the Etihad.